Improvement in stay-logs



. "2Sixeets--Sheetl. 1. A. 'snulREs.

- Stay-Lugs.

No.135,945. Patent-edFe'b.18,1873.

WITNESSES:-

TATES JOHN A. SQUI'RES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAY-LOGS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 135,945, dated February 18, 1873.

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. S UIREs, of the city and county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veneer-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawing making part of this specification, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, in which drawing Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is an interior view of one of the carrier-wheelszof the stay-log. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a cross-section of the staylog in expanded position. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a cross-section of the stay-log, showing greatest contraction. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section of the stay-log and one of thecarrier-wheels.

The same parts are indicated by the same letters in all the figures.

This invention relates to an improved construction of the stay-log for knife-cutting veneer-machines, by which it is made to contract or expand radially, as may be required, to suit the cylindrical convexity of the log from which the veneers are to be cut; also, to an improved mode of mounting the stay-log upon its center of rotation, by which greater stiffness is given to the machine, and thereby producing a better result in the cutting of the veneer than can be obtained by any of the modes of construction heretofore in use.

This improved stay-log is of metal, and has two principal pieces, A and B, A being the axis or central part, and B the outer or adjustable portion, to which the veneer-log O is attached, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by means of wood screw-bolts a a, Fig. 4, passing through the side flanges of the log-carrier B into the substance of the timber or veneer-log (3, which bolts are inclined inwardly to keep their points within the smallest practicable cutting-circle of the veneer-log, the veneer being taken ofl' cylindrically as the log rotates upon its axis of motion across the cutting-edge of the knife. The central or axial part A has a groove, D, formed in its inner side, and the outer portion B has a projecting rib, E, formed on its inner side, so that it may enter 'into the groove D, as shown in Fig. 4, in which position of the stay-log the last out of the veneer will be in the curve of the least practicable radius; but when the veneer-log is of a flat sweep upon its outer surface I expand the stay-log to suit such curve, as shown in Fig. 3, in which the veneerlog is represented by dotted lines. The axial portion A of the stay-log is formed with journals at each end, as shown at G, Fig. 5, and inside of these journals I place the carrierwheels H H, and securely attach them to it by keys or otherwise. In the inner faces of the wheels H H I form the recesses J, Fig. 2, about eight inches wide and two inches deep and upon the ends of the log-carrier B I form the flanges K, Figs. 1 and 5, fitting and bedding in the recesses J J of the wheels H H. These flanges are secured firmly to their places by pinch-bolts R It passing through them and also through the wheels, as shown in Figs. 1

and 5; the recesses J J have slots, as shown at S, Fig. 2, through which the pinch-bolts B may rise and fall with the expansion and contraction of the stay-log. The stay-log is expanded or contracted by the adj usting-screws, as shown at L, Fig. 3, there being one at each end of the stay-log; these are tapped through the ends of the center piece A, and so pivoted to the ends of the outer piece B as to move it outwardly or inwardly, as required. The logcarrier B is stiffened by the diagonal braces M M, which are jointed to it by their top ends, and the lower ends or feet take into pockets formed for their reception in the end portions of the center piece A, ,within the bosses of the wheels, and there are grooves c 0 made in the rib E of the log-carrier B for their reception, as shown in Fig. 5, when the stay-log is at its smallest radius; and as the greater or less expansion or distance apart of the axial and outer portions of the stay-log will cause the feet of the braces M M to spread more or less, I employ the screws N N, tapped centrally through the ends of the journals G G, from the outside, and bring their points to bear against the feet of the braces, with any required degree of force, by the hand-wheels O 0, thus effectually relieving the center part A from all lateral or deflecting strain from any resistance that may be applied to the log-carrier B. The whole stay-log is thus effectually trussed by the diagonal braces, and being confined at the ends by the flanges K K, and their pinch-bolts It R with the carrying-wheels H H, I am enabled to make the machine of sufficient capacity to cut veneers from logs or stuff of greater length than it is possible to do by any other mode of construction at present in use. The carryingwheels H H are spur-gears, and are operated by the pinions P 1, Figs. 1 and 2, which pinions I place on the cutting-side of the machine, and as near the cutting-edge of the knife as they can conveniently be placed, by which arrangement of the pinions the journals of the stay'log are relieved from all strain in trans mitting the driving force, and .become mere centers of motion; the veneer-log is accord ingly made to pass with a uniform steady motion across the cutting-edge of the knife, thus completely avoiding the jerking motion experienced in all machines in which the stay-log is rotated or operated through the journals.

The solidity and stiffness of the machine, resulting from the mode of construction and operation herein described, enables it to cut the veneer from the log without tremor or jar, thereby producing smooth work, and of uniform thickness.

In this veneer-cutting machine the ordinary cutting-knife may be used, and therefore need not be described herein. 0

Having thus described my improvements in veneer-cutting machines, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The expanding stay-log, consisting of its axial portion A and its outer portion B, in combination with the carrier-wheels H H, substantially as described.

2. The adjusting-screwsN N, tapped through the journals of the axial portion of the staylog, in combination with the diagonal braces, and by which the said braces are tightened at any degree of expansion, substantially as shown and described.

3. The expanding stay-logA B, in combination with diagonal braces M M for trussin g the same, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination of the log-carrier B with the carrier-wheels H H, by means of the recesses J J, into which the feet or end flanges of the log-carrier are fitted and secured, substantially as described.

JOHN A. SQUIRES.

Vitnesses War. F. MONAMARA. A. B.MALoo1so.v, Jr 

